Rare Varieties of the 1936 Buffalo Nickel: History and Value

The history of the Buffalo nickels was not really long. With only 25 years of its service life, this iconic coin still managed to leave a long-lasting impact on American numismatics. Struck during the times of the Great Depression, these could have captured something more sophisticated than decent financial value but culture, the state of a nation, and resilience in a time of economic austerity. 

The production was full of surprises, and in 1936, the US Mint released not only standard coins but exclusive erroneous variations that may identify these coins as even more praised items in the market. All in all, it is the story of a great power trapped in a metal plate that can be quite valuable these days. 

How Buffalo Nickels Emerged

When centuries switch, so does the perception of the culture and the order of things. It may come down to any aspect of life, from the most obvious things like lifestyle and art to less affected areas like numismatics. This can be easily observed if we look back at the beginning of the XX century. 

Back then, in 1904, Theodore Roosevelt expressed his frustration with the uninspired designs of American coins and sought to enlist a skilled sculptor to revitalize these units of currency (five-cent coins included) with more artistic and symbolic images. 

By 1911, the US Mint wished to replace the Liberty Head Nickel, which had been in use since 1883, with a completely new design. A former apprentice of the great Augustus Saint-Gaudens, sculptor James Earle Fraser, was hired by mint officials to create a new nickel that would capture the spirit of the nations from the very beginning.

Although the Buffalo Nickel made its formal debut in 1913, the coin faced significant production challenges, however aesthetic this creation could be. Rapid die wear caused by the high-relief design made it quite problematic for the Mint to strike distinct details in large quantities. 

Minor changes took place, but was it effective enough to survive? Anyway, the nickel continued to pose obstacles for the Mint and the general public because its inscriptions and date often deteriorated too fast while in use. 

Related article: 1941 Jefferson Nickel Value.

Key Mint Varieties of the 1936 Buffalo Nickel

When it comes to the Mint facilities responsible for the production of the Buffalo nickel 1936, we should mention those located in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. What were the proportions? 

1. 1936 Buffalo Nickel No Mint Mark – Philadelphia Mint

In 1936, the Philadelphia Mint produced the greatest number of Buffalo nickels  – 118,997,000 pieces in total.

2. 1936 Proof Buffalo Nickel  – Philadelphia Mint

For the first time since 1916, the US Mint decided to finally produce proof coins. This also affected the mintage processes of the nickels that year. Since there were only 4,420 proof coins made, they are extremely valuable and collectible (as they were intended to be). These proof coins have mirror-like surfaces and fine details since they were made with the use of polished dies and planchets. 

By the way, one may find two main varieties, i.e., Satin Proof and Brilliant Proof.

3. 1936 D Buffalo Nickel – Denver Mint 

While Philadelphia produced a lot more instances in 1936, the Denver Mint released only 24,814,000 pieces, each bearing a tiny "D" mint mark on the back beneath the "FIVE CENTS" denomination. 

4. 1936 S Buffalo Nickel – San Francisco Mint

As for the last production site, San Francisco is considered the less fruitful with 14,930,000 coins. Where is the mint mark on a 1936 Buffalo nickel? Just below the words "FIVE CENTS" on the reverse.

Total amount: 158,745,420 (across all mints)

Briefly About the Features 

The 1936 Buffalo Nickel features the iconic design by James Earle Fraser which incorporates a strong American bison on the reverse and a proud Native American chief on the obverse side. The image of a bison was based on a real animal Black Diamond who presumably lived at the Bronx Zoo. As for the native American chief, this image combined three or more real-life figures of the native American ancestry. 

So, in order to explore exclusive, highly valuable instances, let us take a look at the main characteristics of the coin.

However, these specifications are subject to change (not officially, though). When something goes wrong, there might appear valuable deviations that may increase the 1936 Buffalo nickel worth for good. Now, we shall talk about this issue in the section right below. 

Rare and Valuable 1936 Buffalo Nickel Errors

1. 1936-D Three-and-a-Half-Leg Buffalo Nickel

Estimated value: up to $30,000

This error, one of the most well-known errors of this type, was initially triggered by excessive die polishing, leading to the bison's front right leg being partially removed. As a result, the bison appears to have three and a half legs, with an area of the front leg either pale or completely absent. 

2. 1936 Doubled Die Obverse 

Estimated value: up to $10,000

The doubled die is one of those classic deviations that may occur on the surface of any coin. In this case, doubling affects the date (1936) and some of the obverse inscriptions, e.g., "LIBERTY". As such, it is usually caused by a misalignment that occurs during the hubbing process, giving the illusion of being displaced or doubled.  

3. Clipped Planchet

Estimated value: up to $5,000

A coin with a missing curved or straight section along the edge is the consequence of a clipped planchet error, which occurs when the metal strip used for coin blanks is mispunched. 

4. Off-Center Strikes

Estimated value: up to $4,000

Finally, here is one of the most prevalent in the numismatic market errors called the off-center strike. When the coin blank is not aligned with the dies during striking, some of the design features are shifted off the planchet. This is how an off-center deviation is born. Besides, the greater the off-center shift is (in %), the more valuable the coin can be.

Current Data Revealed: The Value of 1936 Buffalo Nickels in 2025

At first, the worth of a coin is an unpredictable variable, especially when it is not connected to its metal content and proofness as well. However, in the course of time, one may notice trends regarding its pricing on the market. The same happened in terms of the buffalo nickel value 1936. 

Yes, its circulated examples are generally worth $1 to $10, but well-preserved uncirculated instances (e.g., 1936 5C Brilliant Proof) can fetch up to $95,000 as stated by PCGS Guide. For more comprehensive details, you can always consult reputable resources like the above-mentioned website, as well as apps like Coin ID Scanner*. 

In higher grades, rare varieties like the 1936 D Three-and-a-Half-Leg Buffalo Nickel may sell for thousands of dollars. High demand is anticipated for the 1936 Doubled Die Obverse, which might cost hundreds to thousands at auctions. 

*Coin ID Scanner is an innovative tool for quick coin identification and market analysis. It helps numismatists from all over the world manage their collections, learn more about errors, e.g., of 1947 nickels, spot defects, and store the pieces they own in one digital space. It is definitely worth trying in 2025. New year, new coins to observe!

Sources: 

1. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1936-5c-brilliant/3995 

2. https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/american-buffalo-coins/?srsltid=AfmBOorC5Ii8HClCS9X1quQOJ7v0mEIbGrwV8dlkv34_Tp4tujZgLCWp